Lime slaking apparatus



10, 1935. E, HARPER 2333,14

LIME SLAKING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: /mar'. Haw 3 A TTORNE Y.

March 1935- E. E. HARPER LIME SLAKING APPARATUS Fil ed Juhe 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 v J, F u p v mm! N N T ,W N 7 MW W b m5 N um Q M o A 5 mm um mm am 3 v U21: \.QQ m Qm QW vb #M QQ Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 10 Claims.

This invention has reference to lime slaking apparatus, and one of the objects thereof is to provide an improved form of construction which is characterized by various advantages as regards increased operating efficiency.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of means for effecting a novel method of agitation of the slaking mixture, in such a way as to produce not only a more efiicient and complete slaking operation, but also a more homogeneous solution. In this connection the vat or tank construction is such as to permit readier removal of unslaked portions or clinkers from the tank, and with a minimum of waste of the product.

The apparatus includes proper provision for continuous removal of the dust and fumes arising from the slaking mixture, and moreover the construction is of such a design as to develop the proper temperature conditions for the most efficient slaking operation, in which the water supply is maintained just sufficient for this purpose, without excess, besides which the water is utilized for both washing and condensation purposes, and supplied in such a way as to promote the movement of the fumes and vapors from the tank in the direction of the discharge end thereof.

It is also sought to provide a construction of practical and yet comparatively simple design, with all parts requiring attention made readily accessible for repair, adjustment, or cleaning.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the construction, after which the features and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will be set forth and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view, with portions broken away, illustrating an apparatus embodying the present improvements;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure l is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the apparatus; and

Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sectional details, respectively, of a modified feature of the construction.

As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a tank 9 of appropriate dimensions to provide a slaking chamber ID of the desired size, in one end of-which is located a sloping partition I l separating the chamber Ill from a vacuum or suction and dilution compartment I2, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The chamber I0 is also preferably provided with inwardly sloping bottom panels l4 cooperating with the lower portion of the partition H to form a marginal false bottom structure sloping inwardly entirely around the bottom of said chamber, as represented in Figure 4 as well as Figure 3. The tank is fitted with a cover l5 provided with a feed passage 6 for receiving the delivery end of a material feeding device l3 of any preferred type (Figure 2). The interior face of the cover l5 carries a baflie plate ll depending a suitable distance below the liquid 1 level is as well as below the overflow outlet into the discharge pipe l9 at the rear of said baflie, this outlet being shielded by a suitable trap structure 20 (Figure 4) The top of the partition ll extends somewhat above the liquid level, or center of said overflow opening, where it connects with the forward edge of a shelf or ledge 22 projecting and overhanging the rear end of the tank, which is provided with a hinge cover section 21 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3; this provides access for raking any unslaked material up the slope of the inclined partition member H and working it over on said shelf or ledge 22', which is provided with an intermediate lateral slope connecting with a raised 25 end surrounding an outlet opening 23 into a discharge pipe 24 for waste portions of the material.

The upper portion of the suctional compartment I2 is equipped with a fan suction connection 25 communicating with the intake of a blower type of a fan 26 driven by a suitable motor 21 mounted on a bracket or shelf 28 at the corresponding end of the tank 9. Preferably the outlet 29 from the fan 26 is provided with a connection 30 discharging into the pipe 24 as shown in Figure 5.

The connections for transmitting the suctional action of the fan to the upper portion of the slaking compartment in in advance of the baflle I! comprises an upright pipe 32 provided with a 40 bend communicating with the'low'er part of the compartment [2 in proximity to the liquid level therein; the upper. end of said pipe 32 is provided with a T v33 connecting it with one end of a longitudinal pipe 34, the other end of which 45 is also connected through a T 35 with a top of a boxer housing 36 mounted on top of the cover l5 alongside the feed opening it and communicating with the chamber l0 through an opening 31in said cover, as shown in Figure 1.

For washing the vapors, fumes and the dustladen air drawn through the opening 3? by the fan suction, as well as supplying the necessary water for the chamber, a water spray pipe 38 is fitted in the forward end'of the housing 35 in 55 position for spraying the water in the direction of the movement of the fumes and vapors under the influence of said suctional action, and the T connection 35' at the forward end of the pipe 34 is such as to facilitate the use of a second no spray pipe 48 for further spraying and washing treatment, besides promoting the movement of said washed fumes and vapors in the direction of the compartment i2. This compartment discharges by way of an outlet pipe e2 having a trap bend within the compartment (Figures 1, 4 and 5) and communicating with a box 43 outside the tank at the discharge end of the pipe I9, from which point the product is conducted away by a pipe 44.

One of the important features of the invention consists in improved means for effectively agitating the contents of the slaking chamber. For this purpose I provide an impeller device carried by the lower end of an operating shaft 46, this impeller device comprising a pair of curved blades 41 on the order of an airplane impeller, as shown in Figure 3. The shaft H6 is supported at an angle slightly out of vertical, within the front end of the chamber i0 and journaled in bearings 38 carried by an adjustable frame t3 mounted on horizontal pivots 59 provided in the side brackets 5!, in which are also mounted bolts 52 engaging slots 53 of the frame 59 for permitting a limited variation of the angular position of the shaft 43, which projects through a slightly adjustable auxiliary cover plate 54 (Figures 1 and 3). The impeller shaft is driven from a suitable motor 55 carried by the frame 49- and provided with a pulley 53 connected by a belt 51 to a pulley 58 on the upper end of said shaft (Figures 1 and 2).

The advantage of this type of stirring or agitating means lies in the fact that the common paddle arrangement (usually carried by a central longitudinal shaft requiring stuffing boxes in the ends of the tank) is eliminated along with its objectionable features. For example, such paddle devices constitute simply mechanical stirring arms depending for their action upon mechanical engagement with the material and moving it through the solution along with the arms for effecting its disintegration. Besides taking up considerable space within the tank, this paddle or stirring arm arrangement is otherwise inefficient, as it does not produce disintegration of the materials to the desired extent, and the material cakes and forms deposits upon the paddles, which entails extra labor and loss of time for frequenit and tedious cleaning operations. The present improved construction not only eliminates all the complications and disadvantages of the paddle wheel assembly, but substitutes therefor a simpler mechanism which is far more efficient in its operation. This is due tothe fact that the impeller member creates a vigorous turbulent ebullition of the mixture within the tank, which is of such a nature that the disintegration is effected, not by a mechanical arm or paddle engaging and moving or swishing the material through the solution, but by a movement induced under the influence of the impeller and causing the material to break down and disintegrate itself as the lumps or masses of material collide with each other and are gradually worn down by their own grating and abrading action as they are brought constantly into repeated contact throughout the boiling condition maintained by the operation of the impeller.

Obviously the angular portion of the impeller shaft in combination with the sloping wall formed by the partition II at the opposite end of the compartment Ii), as well as the sloping side and end panels I4, provides that interior wall arrangement which is best adapted for accentuating the action of the impeller for main; taining the most efiicient turbulent condition of the slaking solution.

Of course it is not essential that the impeller or its shaft be necessarily located at the end 01 the slaking chamber, but may be positioned at some other location therein and in some instances may not need to be at an incline, though in the type and form of slaking chamber illustrated the location shown in the drawings for the impeller member is deemed the most eflicient.

It is also well recognized that efficiency in slaking operations, particularly with some grades of quick lime, is promoted by proper temperature conditions, in that the heat developed by the reaction promotes the slaking process. This marks a further important advantage characterizing the present construction because of the more complete and thorough disintegration of the material effected by the described method of carrying out this phase of the operation, for it is apparent that this method avoids any excess of water for carrying out the slaking operation, and furthermore this water, being first used for washing the dust and condensing the vapors in the housing 36, undergoes a preheating treatment prior to its being admitted into the slaking chamber through the opening 31 to form a part of the slaking mixture. Again the improved method produces a more intimate intermingling of the solution, because of its more thorough disintegration of the material and hence increased slaking efiiciency, thereby resulting in a more uniform and homogeneous solution as a product of the slaking action.

Since the material will always contain some unslakable pieces or lumps requiring removal from time to time, the absence of any obstructions in the tank and the sloping end H of the slaking compartment I0 provides a construction which readily facilitates such removal, which is accomplished by the operator raising the hinged cover member 2| and raking the unslaked products up onto the ledge 22 where the same can be worked over, any mud, slime .and the like being allowed to drain back into the tank, and the rejected portions, such as clinkers, drawn over to the opening 23 to the discharge pipe 24. The continuous structure of the slope II and ledge 22, with the opening 23 elevated above the latter, guards against waste, since any liquid will naturally drain directly back into the tank.

Where advisable for cleaning purposes, the; joints between the pipe sections are provided with removable caps or plugs 60 to facilitate access in direct line with the run of the pipes, as seen for example in Figures 1 and 2. Moreover the hinged cover section 2| opens back far enough for permitting not only the clinker raking operation above referred to, but also the cleaning out of any obstruction in the trap housing 20.

It will be understood that the function of the compartment I2 is to provide a chamber of sufiicient size to effect the precipitation of such water or moisture as may be entrained in the air drawn through the pipe 32, thus drying the air before it is discharged by the fan. In this connection it is to be observed that the fan or blower and compartment l2 are not indispensable features of the construction, since the water pressure and jet action may be so regulated as to be suflicient to maintain the necessary slight vacuum in the upper portion of the slaking chamber, and the air, or air and water mixture, resulting from the water spray or jet action discharged at any convenient point.

While the foregoing sets forth what has been found to be a thoroughly practical and eiiicient construction for the embodiment of the several improvements constituting my invention, it is apparent that minor variations therein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the same or the principle of its operation; for example, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in some cases I contemplate using a separator construction in connection with the pipe 34, which will then discharge into a chamber 64, preferably in tangential relation thereto. The bottom of this chamber 64 is equipped with a trap overflow pipe 65, for conducting any overflow to any desired point, while the normal flow from said chamber will be returned by a suitable valved pipe 66, connecting the lower end of the chamber to the housing 36. Preferably this modification will also include a water-spray fitting 6'! at the upper end of the chamber 64 as shown in Figure 6. By this means, all the water collected in the chamber 64 may be returned to the slaking chamber for use in slaking, and being considerably warmed from its contact with the vapors emitted from the tank, it is obviously in an advantageous condition for that purpose.

It is therefore my desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to make any changes or modifications which may fairly be regarded as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a tank, forming a slaking compartment having one of its walls inclined-inwardly and connecting with a horizontal ledge above the liquid level of the slaking solution in position for raking thereonto any unslaked products, and means for maintaining a lime slaking mixture within the tank, said ledge being provided with an opening therethrough for the discharge of clinkers and waste material.

2. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a tank, forming a slaking compartment having one of its walls inclined inwardly and connecting with a horizontal ledge at approximately the liquid level of the slaking solution, said ledge being formed with an inclined portion leading to a refuse opening materially above said liquid level for receiving clinkers and waste material.

3. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a covered tank forming a slaking compartment having one of its walls inclined inwardly and connecting with a horizontal ledge above the liquid level of the slaking solution, means for maintaining a lime slaking mixture within the tank, a baiile depending from the cover portion of the tank in advance of said inclined wall and to a level below that of the solution, and means for exerting a continuous suctional action for removing fumes and vapors from above the liquid level in advance of said baffle.

4. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a covered tank forming a slaking compartment having one of its walls inclined inwardly and connecting with a horizontal ledge above the liquid level of the slaking solution, means for maintaining a lime slaking mixture within the tank, and a baflle depending from the cover portion of the tank in advance of said inclined wall and to a level below that of the solution, the covered portion of the for the solution at the rear of said battle, and

suction means for continuously removing vapors and fumes from the space above the liquid solution in advance of said bafile.

6. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a covered tank forming a slaking compartment having one of its walls inclined inwardly and connecting with a horizontal ledge above the liquid level of the slaking solution, means for maintaining a lime slaking mixture within the tank, a bafile depending from the cover portion of the tank in advance of said inclined wall and to a level below that of the solution, means providing a trapped overflow for the solution at the rear of said bafile, and means for continuously removing vapors and fumes from the space above the liquid solution in advance of said baffle, the covered portion of the tank including a hinged section permitting access to said trapped overflow as well as to said ledge and upper portion of said inclined wall at the rear of said bafile.

'7. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a covered tank provided with a partition separating its interior into a slaking compartment and a suction and dilution compartment, means for maintaining a lime slaking mixture within said slaking compartment, suction means associated with said suction compartment having conduit connections for continuously removing the fumes and vapors from above the liquid level in said slaking compartment and discharging them into said suction compartment, and outlet means provided with overflow outlet connections for overflow of liquid from both of said compartments.

8. Lime slaking apparatus comp-rising a covered tank provided with an inclined partition separating its interior into a slaking compartment and a suction or dilution compartment, the upper end of said partition being extended horizontally to form a ledge or shelf below the top of the tank and above the liquid level therein.

9. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a covered tank provided with an inclined partition separating its interior into a slaking compartment and a suction or dilution compartment, and a ledge forming a horizontal continuation of said partition below the top of the tank and above the liquid level therein, said ledge being extended on past the suction compartment and provided with a discharge outlet for waste material.

10. Lime slaking apparatus comprising a tank, means for maintaining a lime slaking mixture within the tank, and means providing a vapor outlet connection from the tank having one or more offsets provided with high pressure water spray devices for spraying water on to the fumes and vapors during their passage therethrough and also producing a suctional action in the upper portion of the tank, said vapor outlet connection also providing means for the flow of spray water and return of condensed vapors back into said slaking mixture.

ELMER. E. HARPER. 

